A major airline manufacturer was found to be in violation of FAA safety rules and was forced to install additional safety devices in each of its planes within the next six months. The airline company projects the cost of this upgrade to be several million dollars, consisting of lost profits while the planes are on the ground, labor costs, and the cost of parts. In addition, the airline spent $100,000 in attorney's fees in an unsuccessful fight to have the requirement waived. The CFO of the company wishes to know whether any or all of these costs can be deducted.
a. Do the Treasury regulations provide further guidance in this situation?
b. Do the Treasury regulations help to refine or add to the initial research question?
c. Do the regulations adequately address the research question? If so, what are your conclusions, and on what are they based?